Nokia targets emerging markets with two new handsets

January 22, 2016

Nokia has unveiled two cell phones aimed at emerging markets, which are its greatest growth area. An increasing number of people in these markets share handsets within the family, which Nokia perceives as a logical trend.

Both new models feature exchangeable covers, MP3 ring tones and multiple phonebooks. The Nokia 1209 offers up to 80 languages. The Nokia 2600 also has a radio and a camera. They will be available during the first half of the year, costing $50 and $95 respectively.

Recently, Nokia has increasingly concentrated on emerging markets, predicting that the highest growth in the global cell phone market this year will be in the Asia-Pacific region, China, the Middle East and Africa.

A survey carried out by Nokia revealed that more than half of respondents in India and Pakistan said they share or would share a cell phone with family and friends. In Vietnam, the corresponding figure was almost 30%.

About 6,000 people took part in the Nokia sharing survey in India, China, Brazil, Pakistan, Vietnam, Russia and Egypt during October and November 2015.